NaCSBA Advances Self-Build

It’s not especially often that the great and good of the self and custom build sector get together at anything other than at one of the many industry trade shows. However, we gathered in style to celebrate the enactment of the Self & Custom Housebuilding legislation that made it a legal requirement for local authorities to keep registers of people who are interested in self-building.

Such an auspicious event required a suitable venue, and where better than the Terrace Pavilion at the Houses of Parliament? Organised by the National Custom & Self-Build Association (NaCSBA), the summit attracted 120 members of the industry community, including several of the Build It team.

A number of key speakers, among them housing & planning minister Brandon Lewis, endorsed the new legislation and celebrated a new dawn for individual builders and the sector that transforms their dreams of bespoke building schemes into reality.

As it’s my 50th industry news article, I’d like to give NaCSBA a plug for all the good work it’s been doing as the mouthpiece of the custom and self-build community. It’s a voluntary organisation run by professional people who lead extraordinarily busy lives, helping self-builders achieve their goals.

I’ve seen first-hand how much work goes on behind the scenes to influence the decision makers and to reignite the industry. The sector has even recorded a growth from a low of 11,000 units in 2011 to 12,500 in 2015, with a further rise anticipated this year.

With the Housing & Planning Act having recently gained Royal Assent, the number of people registering interest in plots with the local council should rise exponentially. This means that we should also see an increase in the number of individuals and groups taking part in the custom build route.

NaCSBA’s achievements are many, but as an example, we’ve seen self and custom build recognised for the first time on planning applications, which means our numbers can be officially recorded rather than extrapolated from VAT reclaims. We also continue to interact with local authorities, the Royal Town Planning Institute and the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors to ensure professionals are up-to-speed with our fast-changing sector.

Finally, you might also like to take a look at the new NaCSBA website, www.righttobuildportal.org. If you’re in the industry and not yet a member of this forward-thinking organisation, please do sign up. We are fighting for the interests of self and custom builders everywhere and we need your support to help enable more successful projects.